Automobile turning and supporting carriage



Jan. 29, 1952 c, s n- 2,583,714

AUTOMOBILE TURNING AND SUPPORTING CARRIAGE Filed Oct. 26, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l fr I5 Jan. 29, 1952 C. R. SMITH AUTOMOBILE TURNING AND SUP ORTING CARRIAGE Filed Oct. 26, 1946 6S 1 VII 66 l 69 5 Sheets-Sheet 12 40 39 fig, 6 A 8 3| 32 35 sol 1 II M 13 A fie 722a Jan. 29, 1952 c. R. SMITH 2,583,714

AUTOMOBILE TURNING AND SUPPORTING CARRIAGE Filed Oct. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l I 47 46 22 20 2715 ZZ/Zfof Patented Jan. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE TURNING AND SUPPORTING CARRIAGE Charles R. Smith, Chicago, 111.

Application October 26, 1946, Serial No. 705,846

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle turning and supporting carriages of a type adapted primarily for use in garages, repair shops and the like. The instant carriage is a portable mobile type readily movable from place to place in the garage or elsewhere and adapted to engage and lift, clear of the ground and to anyangle desired, any automobile, truck or like vehicle to expose and make easily accessible all underneath, normally hidden parts to facilitate repairs, adjustments, replacements, rust proofing operations and the like.

One object is to provide a carriage of this type that can grasp the vehicle by the frame only and raise, turn, lower or adjust same to any angle desired, maintain positions selectively as long as desired, that starts the lift from the floor or ground and returns the vehicle to starting position without jar, jolt or material vibration. A further object isto provide a mobile carriage 2 Claims. (01.,214-1) of light weight but having great lifting capacity that is compact in assembly, capable of operation by one attendant, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged and durable in assembly and so constructed and balanced as to be completely safe at all times in operation.

A further object is to provide a vehicle carriage comprising two separate independent normally detached mobile sections, one section adapted to be manually moved into position partly beneath the vehicle in the normal position thereof and to be readily secured to the frame to be raised, together with same to the particular position desired; the second section adapted for hook-on engagement with the first named section to raise same with the vehicle to the said posi tion and thereafter to be readily unhooked or detached therefrom and moved out of the way permitting free access to the supported vehicle from any vantage point, the vehicle engaging section now bearing the full vehicle weight and being well balanced, the weight being so distributed upon opposite sides of the center of gravity as to eliminate the possibility of overturning.

Movement of the loaded section by one attendant is now an effortless matter. Said mobile sections when connected together and in operation transmitting a compensating degree of movement from one to the other to effectively maintain equilibrium.

A still further object is the provision of a mobile vehicle carriage that occupies but little space in use or at rest and in the latter position may be collapsed or reduced to occupy a floor space of substantially eighteen by forty-two inches and 2 that then may be disposed in a corner or unused portion of the garage. Other objects, novel features and advantages of arrangement, construction and design comprehended by the invention are hereinafter more fully pointed out or made apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the vehicleengaging section of the carriage.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the frame alone of Fig. 1 in inoperative or collapsed position.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are detail views of the bridge beams connecting the sides of the frame of the section shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 1 showing the means of engaging a channel type vehicle frame and supporting same. i

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the means provided'for supporting engagement with the box type of vehicle frame.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 7 showing a channel type vehicle frame supported by this section. i i

Figs. 9 through 14 are detail views of various parts of the structure disclosed in Fig. 1..

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on the line l5--l5 of Fig. 1. r

Fig. 16 is a front view of the second section of the instant vehicle carriage.

Fig. 17 is a view in side elevation of the complete vehicle carriage, the vehicle-engaging section shown secured to the vehicle, the latter in dotted lines, ready to be raised therewith by means of the second section to the position shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 18 is a view of Fig. 17 with the adjustable elements in an altered position and the vehicle disposed at a ninety degree angle to its Fig. 17 position, and,

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the frame assembly of the second section.

The vehicle-engaging section of the carriage includes the frame I operatively supported upon the base comprising parallel spaced carriages 2, 3, two in number, each including a pair of connected angle pieces whose upstanding engaging sides form a vertically disposed rail 4, one carriage Wheel 5 being swivel connected, the remaining wheel running in fixed depending bracket 1. Secured to rails 4, 4 are thesleeves 8, 8 in which are removably and adjustably received the for- Ward bridge bar 9 retained in adjusted position by set screws IIl. Toward the rear end, of the carriages also secured to the rails 4 are the sleeves I I that adjustably support the rear bridge bar I2. Rising from each carriage normal thereto and secured to same at its rear end is a tubular member I3 vertically disposed in the normal position of said section upon its wheels 5, 6.

The said members I3 are of substantially greater length than the width of any standard automobile chassis and at their topmost ends carry sleeves I4 to which and to said ends the ends of the angularly disposed tubular members I5, I5 are secured, said tubular members diverging from members I3 as they recede from sleeves I4. and being received upon and terminally supported by the downwardly curved tubular supports l6 connecting members l3 to rails 4, said supports I6 being secured also to the said sleeves 8; braces ll also connecting supports It and rails Y 4 and braces 2!! connecting tubular frame members I3 and I5;

Adjustably received in said sleeves i4 is the bridge bar i8 rele'as'ably retained in position by set screws I9 and provided with a perforate handle 23 having the bar-engaging tubular portion 24 With the set screws ID of sleeves 8 and i i and set screws l9 loosened the carriages '2; 3 with tubular members I3, may be adjusted laterally to vary the width of frame I. Contiguous to sleeves I4, secured to mem'bers I3, I53 and offset slightly inwardly or toward each other are brackets 2| each carrying a roller 22 adapted in one position of the frame for contact with the floor. Secured by yoke 25 pivotally to bridge bar 9 and disposed therebeneath upon the floor is the small conventional hydraulic jack 23 adapted in operation to tilt the frame I and carriages 2, 3 pivotally upon wheels 5.

Secured to each tubular member l3 and extending longitudinally thereof remote from tubul'ar' member I5 is a "flat plate 21 affording abutment for the screws 28 of clamps 29 received in clamp forks 30 that adjustably encompass said plates 21 and members 13 and I5 and that at their open ends are secured by bolts 3| to U-shaped shoes 32 that at their closed ends bear directly upon said tubular members 15, said shoes having at their open ends the semi-circular collars '33 shaped complementary to the periphery of tube I5 upon which they are received.

Four clamps 29 are provided, of identical construction, for adjustable selective detachable engagement with the sides of frame I for supporting engagement with the frame of a vehicle 34 being or about to be serviced. Secured per-" 'm-anently to the members I3 substantially below their longitudinal central portions are the braces 35 extending about and beyond members l5 to which they are also secured, said braces being directly opposite each other and twoin number and adapted for cooperation with the said clamps in supporting the vehicle. There are four clamps 29, two for engagement with each side of the vehicle frame A channel type frame 35, Figs. 6 and dis shown where this type is accessible beneath the vehicle for engagement by the frame I and clamps 29 directly; a second channel type '3! so positioned relative to the vehiclebodyas to require the employment of an U-s'haped extension 38 with fingers 39, 43 and bolt '40 is shown in Figs. 6; and a box type'frame l4 requiring the employment of a finger 43, extension links 41, 42, U-shape and Z-shape respec-# tively, connected by bolt 43 is shown in Fig. 7. In adjusting clamps 29 upon the frame I the lower set of clamps that engage one side of the vehicle frame are spaced from braces 35 a distance equal to the width of one side of the vehicle frame with the other or upper pair of clamps spaced from the lower pair of distance equal to the width of the vehicle frame.

The actuating or lift section includes the U-shaped tubular frame 44, the sides connected by brace 45, supported 'bywheels 46 at its ends and a rear end wheel 41 supported in bracket 49 depending from platform 50. Angular supports preferably two in number, rising from said frame support the tubular vertically disposed guide 52 in which is adjustably received the hollow standard 53 formed with vertical rows of perforations 54 selectively receiving the pin 55 the ends of which extending beyond said standard rest upon the top end of guide 52 to support said standard in adjusted position.

Fulcrumed to the upper end of said standard is the beam {55 to one end of which the anchor chain 5? is adjustab-ly secured connecting said beam to the said frame 34, said beam at its forward end havinga sheave 58 and between its fulcrum point and rear end a second and like sheave 53, a cable 6i? passing over said sheaves having a hook 5i at one end, said cable extending downwardly from sheave 59 to and about a cable drum 62 having a flange 63 at one end and a sprocket 3'4 upon its opposite end in engagement with the worm E5 of shaft '56 journaled in bearings Bl supported by auxiliary frame 68 rising from said base 44, said shaft having a hand crank 53 at one end and a hand Wheel 10 at the opposite, either serving to rotate said shaft, the shaft ll of said cable drum being op'eratively supported in castings 12 supported by angular braces '53 rising from base 44 and by a like 'cast-.

ing connecting the auxiliary frame members 58. V

The normal position ofthe vehicle-engaging section of the carriage is that shown in Figs. 1

and 18 supported upon its wheels 5, E; with the jack 25 disposed upon the floor and pivotally connected to yoke 25. To engage same with a vehicle to be raised the lower set of clamps 29 are spaced from frame I with their forks, 39 a distance from braces 35 corresponding to the width of one side of the vehicle frame if the type of channel frame 3'6, readily accessible, is encountered, or a distance to accommodate an extension 38. or M if the frame types 3'! or 14, respectively, are encountered. The hoist section is now manually moved from its normal position into the position shown in Fig. 17 with the frame I resting upon wheels 6 and rollers 2-2. The frame I is now moved beneath the vehicle 34 and, in the case of channel frame 36, the shoes 32 and braces 35 engaged with said frame and the screws 28 tightened against plates 2! and the upper pair of clamps having been spaced from the lower pair to correspond to the width of the vehicle frame likewise applied and secured to the opposite side of said frame.

If the type of frame 14 is encountered the ex- 7 tension link 4! with finger 48 and link 42 are applied thereto, as shown, the bolt 43 then being tightened as well as clamp 29 and the frame is firmly engaged at two points upon each frame side; Ifthe type of frame 3'! is encountered the fingers 39 and link 38 are secured by bolt 40 to this frame and clamp 29 tightened at each of the four points of frame engagement. The types of frame engagement are readily effected by a mechanic or attendant from a'position upon the floor and partly beneath the car. The

actuating or lift section is now brought into play. With the beam 56 tilted to the angle desired, an effective position bein disclosed in Figs. 17 and 18 the hook Bl at the end of cable 60 is engaged with the handle 23 of bridge bar 18, the standard 53 having been adjusted to the heights desired. Rotation of the hand wheel or crank 69 will rotate worm 65 to turn drum 62 through the medium of engaged teeth 64 thus, from the position shown inFig. 17, raising the frame I gradually from horizontal to vertical position and positioning the base upon its four wheels 5, 5.

Both sections of the carriage are readily movable upon their wheels and while a load is being raised or lowered the movement of the section under load is transmitted to a degree to the lift section so that an automatic adjustment, of one section to the other section is effected, this movement compensating fully for the floating center of gravity of the carriage in operation under load and serving to properly balance same contributing greatly to the absolute safety of the device in use. The bulk of the weight of the vehicle when supported in the position shown in Fig. 18 is disposed directly over the base upon both sides of the center of gravity so that there is no danger of over-balance after the lift section has been disconnected by releasing hook 6| from handle 23.

The lift section may now be moved to an out of the way position to afford clear access to the vehicle from all points. As the vehicle-engaging section with its load approaches the position shown in Fig. 18 the jack 26, vertically disposed and in extended position, will first encounter the floor and its slowly descendin piston will fully cushion any shock that might otherwise occur as the base wheels meet the floor. On return movement to position the vehicle again upon the floor the jack is used to start the tilting movement of the base wheels 5 and base to a position where the movement is taken up by the lift section without shock or jolt. In the folded or collapsed position of the frame, Fig. 2, with the bridge bars 9, I2, l8 removed the frame sides and carriages of the base are secured together for storage or shipping by the stub bars 16 releasably secured in position by set screws 15.

What is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable automobile turning and supporting carriage for vehicles havin channel-type frames, a wheeled base, tubular members secured to the sides of said base at one end thereof normal thereto, curved supports connecting said tubular members and said wheeled base, additional tubular members connecting said first named tubular members and said curved supports, said additional tubular members disposed at an angle to said first named tubular members and diverging therefrom as they approach said curved supports, braces connecting said first named tubular members and said additional tubular members and extending beyond said additional tubular members for engagement with the vehicle frame, plates secured to said first named tubular members, a plurality of clamps adjustably connectin said first named tubular members to said additional tubular members and bearing upon said plates for engagement with the vehicle frame, two only of said clamps cooperating with said braces directly, said carriage in one position adapted for disposal beneath the vehicle for engagement with its frame, a bridge bar connecting tubular members at one side of said base to those at the opposite side, and a handle for said bridge bar.

2. In an adjustable automobile turning and supportin carriage, a wheeled base, a bridge bar at the forward end of said base, a frame at the rear end of said base normal thereto, rollers for said frame, said carriage in one position supported upon said base wheels only, said carriage in a second position supported upon said rollers and certain of said base wheels, vehicle frame engaging means carried by said frame operable in one position of the carriage to engage the vehicle frame, the carriage in said one position being engageable by lift means for movement to said second position, and a portable lifting jack secured to said bridge bar and operably disposed upon the floor in the second position of the carriage.

CHARLES E. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,500,284 Stubbs July 8, 1924 1,618,923 Griffith Feb. 22, 1927 1,847,549 Adams Mar. 1, 1932 1,887,965 Stoner Nov. 15, 1932 1,893,822 Guerriero Jan. 10, 1933 1,920,989 Layhon Aug. 8, 1933 1,974,463 Kintzley Sept. 25, 1934 

